What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of compute-processing power, storage capacity, and other IT resources via the Internet. But what really are the benefits of cloud computing? The term encompasses the technologies, strategies, vendors, and economic models that enable on-demand provisioning of computer resources.

Cloud computing is trending and taking over the IT industry. Cloud computing services usually provide you with all of your technology needs, such as web hosting, email, and data storage. If you go with cloud services, it’s more convenient for you to use different devices like a laptop or phone.

What are the benefits of cloud computing?

• Easier deployment system: Companies can have their applications up and running within minutes instead of hours with traditional servers.
• Reduced complexity: The application can be accessed from any kind of devices without having to configure the servers every time.
• Flexibility: You can have access to a wider range of hardware options with cloud solutions.You can access your data from any device without having to configure your servers at all. In fact, you might only need to log into the server through a secure web portal, which makes it mobile-friendly as well.
• Security: Data stored in the cloud is much safer than locally stored data. This is because it is stored in the cloud servers, which are more secure than regular servers.
• Cost benefits: Cloud computing costs less than traditional solutions like on-premises server or local storage.
• Scalability: Cloud computing allows you to clear up your resources when you need extra capacity. For example, if you are experiencing high server loads, the cloud service provider will give you access to additional resources.

What are the disadvantages of cloud computing?

• Security risks: If your company uses remote storage for storing data, it can be vulnerable to data theft because there is no security feature like firewalls and other security measures installed onto the physical servers.
• Server failures: When you choose cloud computing to store your data, it can be difficult to protect yourself against server failures. The cloud provider may not be well equipped to handle server failures.
• Legal issues: If you lost your devices which were used to access data in the cloud, you could be held responsible for the data breaches.
• Privacy issues: Your private data may be exposed to other people if your information is stored in the cloud over a period of time. Any hacker can access these personal details and use them for their benefit.

Things you should consider when choosing a cloud computing provider

• Select a cloud service provider with sufficient track record. A good provider has gone through the ups and downs of running an IT company, so they can provide you with complex services. You should talk to people who have used the services of the company before, so you will know how stable their operations are.
• Choose a service provider who is certified by independent organizations.You can use a Cloud Security Alliance certification as a standard for a provider’s reliability.
• Check the data storage options. The provider should have multiple ways of backing up your data so you will have more security guarantees. You can check if they provide you with different kinds of storage like database or encryption. Ask the provider if they will back up your data for you as well.
• Make sure that your company’s information does not get exposed to other people through the cloud services provided by the service provider. You should ask whether your private data will be stored in the cloud.
• Look at the security features. Cloud companies should offer firewalls, double authentication to stop hackers, and other security mechanisms alongside other technology features for better protection. The provider should have additional security measures to protect your data from viruses and other forms of malicious attacks.
• Check the data storage capacity. To know how much data you can store in your cloud service provider, you should ask about their maximum storage space and utilization rate. Also, ask about their backup solutions for rare occurrences of server failures.
• Ask about the automatic recovery of your data. Cloud computing service providers should have solutions that can automatically recover your precious data if something goes wrong. You can ask how they are able to do this. Find out if they have a backup policy to protect your data from being corrupted.
• Ask about the encryption software used on the servers. It is important for your cloud provider to use encryption software for better protection of your data. Make sure the provider uses AES 256-bit encryption for more security.
• Check their experience in the cloud computing industry. Find out how long the provider has been providing cloud solutions. You can even ask former customers about their previous experiences with the provider.
• Ask about their disaster recovery strategy. The service provider should have a disaster recovery plan in place to protect your data from system failures. Ask them how they can guarantee safety if their servers go down for a long time.
• Make sure that you can access your data from anywhere in the world using a variety of devices and systems. You can ask the service provider about their mobile accessibility features.
• Check for company policies on data storage time periods. You should be allowed to save your data after a certain period of time. If their policy is too restricted, you can move your data to another company.
• Find out if the cloud service provider offers monitoring tools for your data. They should have useful apps or web portals where you can check how much data you have used and the state of the servers. They should have continuous remote monitoring of their servers and data storage options. You can ask how often they check their data and for what purpose.
• Check if they provide redundant backup solutions for your data. The service provider should maintain multiple copies of your information if possible to prevent hardware failure from ruining it completely.

Which one should you choose between cloud computing and local server services?

Most businesses are now moving towards cloud solutions for storing their data. This is because it is more convenient, flexible, and cost-effective. It can be used on all kinds of devices whether they are laptops or phones. It isn’t difficult to use cloud computing services for storing data. However, you need to keep in mind that it’s vulnerable to hacking attacks if your data is stored remotely with no security measures installed.

It may not be safer than using physical servers. It’s not that difficult to get access to your data stored in the cloud; hackers may only need your username and password.

After considering the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing services, you should choose the service that’s not only compatible with your budget but also your company’s needs.

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